Barking
Rock Farm

Barbados
Blackbelly Hair Sheep

There
is frequently confusion about the name of this breed. In the United
States and Canada, the animals are referred to as
"Barbados." On their island of origin, that name seems to
be unknown; and the breed is referred to as the "Blackbelly."

Although
there can be little doubt that the Barbados Blackbelly has African
ancestry, there is compelling evidence that the breed originated and
evolved on the Island of Barbados. In 1904, the USDA imported a small
flock of these sheep to Bethesda, Maryland. This importation probably
formed the basis of the Barbados flocks in the United States today.

The
horned rams, which we prize so highly in the U.S. today, were
probably created by the introduction into the Blackbelly breed of
small amounts of other horned breeds. (The
rams in the Caribbean are typically polled.) Ewes in both locations
are usually polled, but occasional individuals grow small scurs.

Despite
their appearance, Blackbelly carcasses are well-muscled. Their long
leg bones and almost total lack of carcass fat create the illusion in
the live animal of a lack of development of hind quarters as compared
to shorter-legged early-fattening common commercial breeds.

Barbados
Blackbellies are very easy care animals, lambing and raising twins
(or better!) with ease. The ewes are polyestrous; that is, they
readily breed at any time of the year. The lambs are somewhat slower
growing than many commercial breeds; but they do not need the volume
of high-protein type concentrates used to "finish" such breeds.

Barbados
are a breed of hair sheep. Hair sheep are NOT the result of a
goat/sheep crossbreeding, as is commonly thought, but are a variety
of true domestic sheep. All hair sheep are fully fertile in crosses
with wooled breeds and are genetically different from goats.

Growth
of a wooly "undercoat" is stimulated when tropical hair
sheep are raised in temperate climates. This undercoat, which is of
no real value, is shed naturally in spring and/or subsequent to
lambing. Despite their tropical origins, the breed is perfectly
comfortable in our northern climate. Excessive non-shedding
woolliness is a likely indication of crossbreeding and is generally
considered undesirable.